Ray Rice will have his appeal of his indefinite suspension heard in just over two weeks.
NFL Media's Albert Breer reported Tuesday that the former Baltimore Ravens running back's hearing is set for Nov. 5 and 6, according to a union source.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has been ordered by former U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones to testify in the Rice appeals hearing, per a source informed of the decision. Jones has been appointed to hear and decide the appeal.
Rapoport also reports, per sources involved in the process, that Goodell will be taking questions from Peter Ginsberg, who is Rice's attorney, and from NFL Players Association outside counsel Jeffrey Kessler. Among the other people who will be required to testify: Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome, team president Dick Cass, Rice and possibly Janay Rice. From the NFL's side, senior vice president of labor policy Adolpho Birch and security chief Jeff Miller also are slated to testify.
Rice was initially suspended two games for a domestic violence incident involving his then-fiancee at an Atlantic City casino in February. The suspension became indefinite in September after TMZ posted a video that showed Rice striking Janay Rice in a Revel Casino elevator, causing her to hit her head on a railing and lose consciousness.
Rice and the union has also filed a grievance against the Ravens and the league for wrongful termination of his contract, Breer reported, per an NFLPA source.
Prior to the release of the TMZ footage, the NFL announced sweeping changes to the league's Personal Conduct Policy. In a letter to league owners, Goodell apologized for his initial decision in the Rice case.
